When I was 17 years old, I discovered my passion for flying. Boarding a plane for the first time was both thrilling and memorable - I'll also never forget the the thrill of takeoff, as well as the friendliness and warmth of the staff welcoming me aboard. Since that first flight, I was doggedly determined to become a pilot, breaking the strong family trend of pursuing creative careers. I paid my way through flight lessons and college, earning income from restaurant and bartending gigs. In these positions, my friendly, outgoing personality served me well. I found great success by giving customers exactly what they wanted - a “high touch” experience - and consistently delivering that every time. Constantly striving for self-improvement, I honed my service skills and worked my way up to high-end, high-traffic restaurants delivering exceptional “white glove” service, where I thrived. In addition to my customer care skills, my ability to keep calm under pressure has served me well in both flying and bartending careers. Being able to make rational, critical decisions when tensions run high allows me to focus on safety first. I find it is also important to keep others around me calm so that situations don’t escalate. People that know me well know me for my outgoing personality and sense of humor. A nice perk that comes with traveling for a living is the opportunity to always be meeting new people. Over the course of my career, I have met a vast array of people from different cultures and backgrounds, including flight students I instructed in Saudi Arabia and South Korea.